‘I am no longer my own but yours.Put me to what you will,rank me with whom you will;put me to doing,put me to suffering;let me be employed for you,or laid aside for you,exalted for you,or brought low for you;let me be full,let me be empty,let me have all things,let me have nothing:I freely and wholeheartedly yield all thingsto your pleasure and disposal.And now, glorious and blessed God,Father, Son and Holy Spirit,you are mine and I am yours.’

The Methodist Covenant Prayer

We’ll be holding our annual covenant service at Central on the 13th January. It is a service which many Methodists celebrate as one of the most important in the year. You can find more information about the tradition on the Methodist Church website.

Our service on the 13th January will start at 10:30am, and everyone is welcome to join us whether you are sharing in a Covenant Service for the first time, have done it annually for many years, or simply want to watch what others do. The service includes communion to which everyone is invited to take part.

“Come to God’s house,
you who have much faith
and you who would like to have more;
you who have been here often
and you who have not been here for a long time;
you who have tried to follow Jesus
and you who have failed. Come.
It is Christ who invites us to meet him here.”

Organ Vespers

Sunday 25th November 6.30pm

The organ case

Drawing on a similar service in the German Lutheran tradition we offer a new approach which focuses on organ music appropriate to a time in the church year or special theme.
There are also some appropriate readings and the opportunity to join singing one or two hymns from the Methodist tradition.

On this occasion we mark the church anniversary, “Stir up Sunday”, the festival of Christ the King and look forward to the start of Advent.

For heritage open days this year, The church will be open from 10am to 4pm on the Saturday (15th September) and noon to 4 pm on the Sunday (16th September). This coincides with our Harvest festival celebrations.

Our church is a Grade 11* listed building built in 1840, one of the few chapels of its period still in regular use as intended. It has an imposing classical facade incorporating a giant three bay portico of unfluted Ionic columns and pediment. The interior is horse-shoe shaped with a gallery on three sides supported by nine pillars.

You’ll be very welcome to pop in and have a look around the chapel; some of us will be around to answer any questions you may have. You should have an opportunity to hear what is generally regarded as one of the best organs in the city. There will also be time and space to sit quietly and pray.

The theme of this year’s heritage open days is extraordinary women, so we’re very pleased to be partnering with Carecent, Kyra, Serendipity and York Chocolate Story (i.e. important users of our building!). There will be displays from all of these organisations including our own display on Susannah Wesley, an extraordinary Methodist. We’re proud of our heritage, and it’s not all about the building!

During the day on Saturday and Sunday afternoon in the chapel there will be organ music with a focus on music by women composers, Floral arrangements as part of our traditional harvest celebrations, and the Courtyard garden will be open to the Carecent room where teas and coffees will be served.

Everyone is welcome to join us for worship on Sunday morning at 10:30am, when Rev Rory Dalgliesh will lead our service for Harvest festival.

Lent and Easter are important parts of the Christian calendar. There’s plenty going on at Central.

During Lent two small groups (Wednesday lunchtime and Friday evening) are meeting to discuss and consider the film ‘I, Daniel Blake’. Contact Deacon Judith if you’d like to join one of these groups – it’s not too late and you don’t need to be a church member.

Services during Lent and Easter:

Sunday 11th March 10:30am – Led by Deacon Judith – exploring our mission in the city through prayer, discussion and hearing stories from around our community. 4pm Service led by Revd Rory Dalgliesh will be a service of Holy Communion.

Sunday 18th March 10:30am – Led by Mrs Hilary Blake (change from published plan).

Sunday 25th March (Palm Sunday) 10:30am – All Age Worship led by Rev Rory Dalgleish. 6:30pm Worship led by Mrs Eliza Main.

Friday 30th March (Good Friday) – 12pm – 3pm Church open for prayer and reflection. 6.45pm Good Friday Ecumenical Witness & Worship: Procession with the Cross from Parliament Street to York Minster; 7.30pm Churches Together Service in York Minster

Sunday 1st April (Easter Sunday). 10:30am Worship with Holy Communion led by Deacon Judith Stoddard and Dr John Schofield. 6:30pm Worship led by Rev john Schofield.

We have a Facebook page, where we normally post details of our services alongside any other relevant from our city and the world of Methodism. You can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/CentralMethodistChurchYork/ Make sure you ‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ to keep up-to-date.

The hymns that we sing are an important influence on our theology and hence the way we lead our lives. Singing has been at the heart of the Methodist story since it’s beginnings. The preface to the hymn book states “Singing hymns in worship assists us in meeting with the living God and helps us to grow in faith, discipleship and fellowship.” The same can be applied to using the words of hymns in personal reflection and prayer.

During Lent we’re going to be adding in a devotional and reflective element to our posts. Each day we’ll be posting the words of a hymn verse from our normal Hymn book, Singing the Faith. If you have a favourite hymn, or have spotted something that particularly speaks to you, or something that helps you during Lent, then let us know and we’ll include it. There’s 40 days to fill!

Please get in touch with your suggestions using the comments form below.